In 1896, there were 52 cheese factories in Manitoba. Of these, only two bonafide cheese factories remain, one of them being Bothwell Co-Op Dairy. Most plants were forced to close their doors because of milk shortages, and with regulations prohibiting raw milk cheese being marketed, and requiring the installation of costly pasteurization equipment. The New Bothwell plant was founded in 1936, in the Rural Municipality of Hanover, by local people and the structure was built by volunteers. In 1967, an addition was built, incorporating the old facilities. Major expansions were done in 1978 and 1986, installing all modern equipment.

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